Trouble with MySpace

Editor’s note: This message came to me via email, with the writers asking not to be identified. Because it’s a topic that I’m sure is on the minds of a lot of parents, I’m posting it below.

“Both we, as grandparents, and her mother, are concerned about our middle-school granddaughter’s involvement in Myspace.com. She has assured us all that ‘no one can access my page except people who know my ‘name,’ but articles we read on the subject indicate otherwise.
Recently, her older sister happened to see a photo she had posted that was ‘suggestive’, (and if it was labeled so by a 16-year-old, I’m sure it was!) With the usual “It can’t happen to me” attitude of any 13-year-old, she isn’t listening to our cautions, and seems to feel that, if she doesn’t know who she is talking to, she can say anything. We don’t want to make the Internet—or even e-mail—off-limits to her, but don’t know exactly what TO do. Ideas welcome, please.